BackStab: iPhone / iPad game review round-up

When we first heard about Gameloft’s free-roaming action-adventure game BackStab back in March this year, we told you that it was heading to the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play as a timed-exclusive. However, we also mentioned that it would eventually be heading to other mobile platforms such as Apple iOS. As some of you may know, the game has now been released onto the Apple App Store.

According to reviewers, the BackStab game – which is compatible with the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad – resembles Assassin’s Creed, but mixed in with elements of other games. For example, Andrew Koziara from appolicious.com says that the game not only combines the crime aspects of a GTA game with the parkour style of AC, it also sets it in what may as well be the environment of Pirates of the Caribbean.

Andrew notes that although the story of the BackStab game is nothing spectacular, it is still pretty well done. The best part of this game in Andrew’s opinion is the assassinations, while the downside is the fact that the game is full of bugs and glitches. Meanwhile, Dan Morgan from theappera.com says that the game looks amazing on the iOS platform, and the settings fit well with the game’s story.

The only downside according to Dan is that the cinematics can be fairly glitchy at times. Other than that, Dan says that the BackStab game has great visuals, active gameplay and an engaging story. Anthony Gallegos from IGN on the other hand gave the game a score of 4.5 out of 10, describing it as a disappointment. Anthony says that although the game does look impressive, its flaws do let it down.

Meanwhile Jim H from thesixthaxis.com gave the game an overall rating of 5/10. Among the good points in Jim’s opinion are huge open world environments, a refreshing choice of setting / character and satisfying / fun to play linear sections. However, the downsides include frame rate issues that spoil the visuals, bland melee combat and incredibly repetitive side missions.

Finally, Jason Wadsworth from 148apps.com gave the game a rating of 3.5 stars out of 5. Jason also noted BackStab’s resemblance to the Assassin’s Creed game, and even goes as far as saying that BackStab is what Assassin’s Creed would have been had it been set in an 18th century English colony. Jason says that although the lack of fidelity in the controls can be frustrating, the game does have a fairly entertaining story.

You can read the full reviews via the links provided. Have you downloaded the BackStab game onto your iOS device yet?